Sligo Rovers’ first-leg defeat last night means the Bit O’Red cannot break their record run of 12 straight wins from the start of a campaign that stretches back to the 1936/7 season.

Stunning goals from Gary O’Neill and David Cassidy saw to that as Drogheda – the only team to win this competition twice – take the upper hand ahead of Monday’s Showgrounds return.

For Sligo, this was the first of six games in 20 days that will reveal all about their well-being this season. Watched by Saints boss Liam Buckley, the league champions response against St Pat’s on Friday will be fascinating.

As will the way in which they handle their two games next week against Mick Cooke’s men, then Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght and Derry City at home on Bank Holiday Monday.

It was inevitable their 10-match winning streak would run its course at some stage but the worry now for Ian Baraclough is whether last night was just a wobble or have seeds of doubt been sewn?

Initially it looked as if Sligo would pick up from where they left off against Cork when Aaron Greene unleashed a vicious drive that looked destined for the net only to crash off the bar.

Neither side set the place alight in those opening stages but the poor state of the pitch didn’t lend itself to free flowing football on either side with long balls the order of the day for much of the half.

And Drogheda profited more from that approach with David Cawley having to clear a Derek Prendergast header off the line.

But Sligo grew into the game and Gabriel Sava had to make an unorthodox save with his feet to keep out Danny Ventre’s cheeky free while Anthony Elding then headed across the face of goal.

But the hosts broke the deadlock after 24 minutes – and in some style. Gavin Peers couldn’t clear a Drogheda throw-in and his defensive header teed up O’Neill who fired home a cracking overhead kick.

It was only the second time this season that Ian Baraclough’s men went behind in a game. The first was against Limerick but they came back to win 2-1 ...but history would not repeat itself last night.

By now it was end to end, albeit plenty of play still stemmed from a direct approach and Elding – the league’s top scorer – forced Sava to save his first-time volley from Peers’ dangerous diagonal cross.

And although they were beginning to knock on the door, the runaway league leaders were reeling 10 minutes before half-time when Mick Cooke’s men doubled their lead with another superbly taken goal.

Gavin Brennan flicked on Sava’s goal-kick to Cassidy who read the situation superbly by continuing his purposeful run. Having scorched the defence, he executed the perfect lob to leave goalkeeper Gary Rogers stranded.

It didn’t get much better for the visitors after the break as they couldn’t break down a stubborn Drogheda side who held their shape and defended superbly, even though Elding went close once again.

And Drogheda could have put the tie beyond sight in the dying stages but Ryan Brennan’s header grazed the post and flashed wide, but they had already inflicted enough damage by that stage.